21/08/2026
Appreciation post – Katie 💙
(I had drafted this post at the end of last term and somehow never scheduled it to be shared 😩 But it’s one that really needs to be, so here it is… 🥹)
A lot of you will have met Katie over the years, as she first started working for SwimKidz Oxfordshire back in 2018!
Alongside her previous full time accounting job, Katie loved teaching children. She was, and still is, an incredibly knowledgeable, kind and caring teacher. ❤️
Eventually, teaching alongside a full time career physically became too much and Katie had to step away. But whenever we needed help, she came back. More recently, she jetted off travelling, but throughout it all she has always been at the end of the phone and has never hesitated to come back and help when the team and I have needed her, whenever she could alongside her full time work commitments.
When the business reopened after 18 months of Covid closures, my daughter had been born just three days before and I was facing one of the most challenging times of my life. Just two months later, Katie came back to help. 🥹
And more recently, during this term, when Fay was rushed off for emergency surgery, Katie returned with very little notice to support us. She travelled to London to renew her Lifesavers qualification, stepped straight back in and was like she had never left. 💙
Katie, I am so incredibly grateful that our paths crossed. You have supported me, the team and our swimmers through some really difficult times, and I will never forget that.
Although you’re not able to teach with us anymore (you know I will still try and steal you for the odd occasion if I can 😉) You will always be a very special part of the SwimKidz Oxfordshire family.
Thank you for everything, Katie. 💙🦈
Some people leave a lasting impact long after they stop being part of the day to day, and Katie is definitely one of those people. ❤️